This is Beirut, 14/05 12:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Pope Francis Vatican Christians
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday offered to mediate between leaders of countries at war, saying that he himself "will make every effort so that this peace may prevail". The new US pontiff, who became head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics last week, also called on Christians living in the Middle East not to abandon their homes, in a speech to members ...
Fadi Noun, 03/05 15:55 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Lebanon Christians Catholic Church
The month of May has, for centuries, been dedicated to Mary. In Lebanon, the feast of Our Lady of Lebanon is celebrated on the first Sunday of May. On May 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, entrusting them with messages—once considered "secrets"—that, though now revealed, continue to stir the conscience ...
Rayan Chami, 25/04 14:40 - Reading : less than a minute
In Iraq’s Christian heartland, Easter Mass at al-Tahera Church became a poignant tribute to Pope Francis. Church bells echoed through Qaraqosh and Mosul, honoring the man whose 2021 visit brought solace after years of war and displacement. He is now mourned as a spiritual father by those he never forgot.
Fady Noun, 13/04 09:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Jesus begins the final act of His earthly life with pure joy: the act of His Passion and His victory over death, the ultimate transformation of the human race. This pure joy is that of Palm Sunday, commemorated by the Church on the last Sunday of Lent. It is, in anticipation, the joy of Easter itself. Yet the shadow of the Cross subtly looms over ...
This is Beirut, 28/03 17:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Syrian authorities have reversed a decision to shut bars and restaurants serving alcohol in Christian-majority areas of Damascus after public outcry, witnesses, and a Syrian news outlet said on Friday. After Islamist-led rebels ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, the new authorities had pledged to protect the country's ethnic and ...
Amine Jules Iskandar, 08/03 13:10 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
How much do we know today about the musical heritage that emerged from the Levant and our mountains, enriching the West with its melodies and poetic depth? These hymns, which still echo beneath the vaulted ceilings of humble rural churches and in certain urban neighborhoods or suburbs, trace an unbroken lineage back to the 4th and 5th centuries. ...
Fady Noun, 24/01 08:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Europe Middle East USA Christians Lebanon
The unity of Christians has never been more vital amid the evolving realities of the Middle East. The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” observed from January 18 to 25, offers a timely opportunity to reaffirm this essential mission. This annual tradition boasts a complex history. It originated from the 19th-century ecumenical movement aimed ...
Tarek Karam, 2024-12-30 16:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The notion that the Assad regime ever protected Syrian Christians – and previously, the Christians of Lebanon – is entirely unfounded. Equally baseless is the notion that Ahmad al-Sharaa, regardless of his background and representation, serves as a guarantee for the Christians of Syria and Lebanon. What is clear, however, is that Lebanese ...
This is Beirut, 2024-12-22 09:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Iraq christians alcohol Yazidis prohibition
The smell of dampness rises through the dust at a private club in central Baghdad, one of many shut in a crackdown on alcohol sales in Iraq. "We appealed to all authorities in the country, but no one listened to us," said the owner, a Christian who asked not to be named. Although a law banning the sale and import of alcohol was passed in 2016 ...
This is Beirut, 2024-12-15 11:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Sunday Homily Bkerke Syria Christians Béchara Raï
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai stressed the need to “encourage Christians (in Syria) to get involved in national and political work.” In his Sunday homily in Bkerke, Archbishop Rai affirmed that “it is essential to unite all components of Syrian society to collaborate in rebuilding the country,” stressing the importance of “building a ...
This is Beirut, 2024-12-13 13:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Where should the crown be placed? In the courtyard of the Marist Brothers in Aleppo, one of the eleven Christian communities in Syria’s second city (northwest), the question that is sparking debates is about the Christmas tree. Just days after their swift conquest of power in Damascus on December 8, the new rulers of the country, former ...
Elie Ziadé, 2024-12-11 22:50 - Reading : less than a minute
Damascus Bachar el-Assad Christians Revolution
However, in Bab Touma, a district with a strong Christian majority in the eastern part of Old Damascus, a sense of apprehension and waiting prevails in the almost deserted streets. Most shops and churches remain closed, awaiting a stabilization of the political and military situation. This is Beirut spoke to the residents of this neighborhood, ...